Dan’s Daily Notebook: Penguins Pulling Back, Garbage Trade Rumors

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Pittsburgh Penguins Right Wing Phil Kessel (81) looks on during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings on December 15, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

The Pittsburgh Penguins scouts list was small despite playing a team which is also known to be in the trade market. The Penguins stinker against the Carolina Hurricanes had several levels and layers–Sidney Crosby was on the ice for six of the Penguins eight high danger chances–but Jim Rutherford’s stated pause in the trade market appears to be legit.

Winnipeg and San Jose showed up last night. The Rangers also had their local scout, Penguins great and local resident Rick Kehoe in the barn.

I can’t say Michel Ferland lept off the page at anyone, the empty netter notwithstanding. Penguins scouts have also been tough to find at games across the league. It does truly appear the Penguins are in a watch mode. There were no Penguins scouts at the Anaheim Ducks-Toronto Maple Leafs showdown and we haven’t been able to locate many others recently.

What I saw from the Penguins Tuesday night wasn’t very good. The full X’s and O’s analysis and the report card is here for subscribers. (PHN EXTRA)

Outside Pittsburgh, a donnybrook is brewing in the Toronto front office. Mitch Marner’s agent is spitting fire. Auston Matthews signed a five-year deal worth $58.17 million to buy out one year of free agency, but Marner’s agent doesn’t feel his client is getting a fair shake and went public. (Sportsnet)

The Toronto Star had the original scoop but they’re a newspaper with a strict subscription policy so we’ve linked the recap from Sportsnet.

Also from our friends at Sportsnet, things are getting UGLY in Edmonton. Sweaters (er, jerseys if you prefer) were left on the ice after an epic collapse last night. Mark Spector dove in. (Sportsnet)

The Arizona Coyotes are in playoff contention. They’ve lost four straight but are only three points out. Go Rick Tocchet. Unfortunately, the only free coverage of the Coyotes is the Associated Press. Really. (AZcentral)

The bottom of the Western Conference standings are a mass of teams which flooded the trade market then pulled back when they realized despite their shortcomings, the rest of the pack was just as bad. We present–the St. Louis Blues. Now also right in the middle of the playoff fight. (St. Louis Gametime)

And finally…

It’s amazing how many anonymous former scouts are on Twitter just giving away the dirt on trade talks, isn’t it? If you’d like a laugh, I present this one courtesy of our buddy Tom, who sends these for my amusement:

Kessel is available, teams are calling in, would not be surprised if he is gone by summer.

So, the Panthers, which are a country mile out of the playoffs would give up their 2017 first-round pick (10th overall) and more picks in order to acquire a pair of Russians whom the Panthers could acquire for free in a few months.

To be doubly clear, I’m mocking these accounts. Feel free to enjoy these accounts in the same way I enjoy Ancient Aliens.

Stick tap to the Post-Gazette and Jason Mackey for heading to Florida early for a great Derick Brassard story. Confirms so much. Great job, Jason and PG (Post-Gazette).

2 Comments

Tommy 2 Jacks

February 6, 2019 at 12:44 pm

While I don’t buy into all, or even most trade rumors, these two would not surprise me one bit.

Florida would have the same rationale for acquiring both players, as all the other teams have when they acquire the rights to a player prior to free agency. In addition to exclusive negotiating rights, they’d be able to sign both players to longer terms.

As far as Kessel goes, there were rumblings this past offseason, and the Pens may need to clear out some cap space. If the cap climbs to the expected $83 million range, the Pens would have about $4 million in cap space, since Guentzel’s $6 million deal kicks in. I’m assuming the Pens will want to re-sign Aston-Reese, Petterson, Riikola, & Blueger. Even with qualifying offers, although I’d think JR might want to lock up some of these guys a bit longer, those modest raises will put the Pens pretty close to the cap. Add to that the fact that Kessel will be 32 when the 2019-20 season begins and he’ll have another two years after 2019-20 with a pretty good sized cap hit, this offseason may be the perfect time to move him.